Hello everyone,
Just when I thought Parliament couldn't get any more unpredictable and interesting, it does! Having sat through last week's emergency £2.7bn budget, which was a complete reversal of the approach the Chancellor had taken just 2 months before when he gave his first budget, I'm starting to wonder what's coming next. There is a real sense that just about anything could happen… Both in Parliament and locally, it's always busy so read on for an update.
Post Office Closures
I will be working alongside the council and St Mary's Church to investigate the possibility to have some post office facilities located in the church itself. I also raised our local concerns about the closure decisions in Parliament with the Leader of the House Harriet Harman MP, asking for the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to start answering questions about the whole closure process. It was gutting to see community concerns totally ignored by the Post Office and have Lower Richmond Road and Putney Bridge Road post offices confirmed for closures. In my correspondence with Post Office Managing Director Alan Cook, he wouldn't rule out further closures even.
Airports Watchdog Private Members Bill
My Private Members Bill to introduce an airports watchdog for residents has been delayed going through Parliament a second time. Last Friday it was too low down the list to be reached. The best chance I had was probably the first time it was due to be debated, back in February. Then, an government MP managed to do a 2 hour long speech which conveniently for Ministers used up the remaining time available that day. He was told "well done" by his whips as he ruined my best chance of making sure our community has an independent watchdog to stand up to airports behaving with not enough care for residents nearby. The night flights case going through the courts this week shows why we need an airport watchdog. I'm going to keep going with my bill and I'm hoping eventually I'll be able to get it properly debated - I'll certainly keep trying. I'm due to get more information on how Ministers took decisions about the Heathrow consultation process soon and will get PutneySW15 readers know as soon as I have any details.
Out and About
I did the Battersea Park Race for Life for Cancer Research - it was a 5k run and a beautiful night so a really great event. On Sunday, I also joined the 1st East Putney Scout Group to celebrate their 100th birthday with lots of alumni 1st East Putney scouts and the beavers, cubs and scouts in the group today. The barbeque was brilliant, as were all the photos of groups in years past. Last week I met up with Southfields Community College students to discuss their experience of crime and gangs locally. It was a very frank and helpful discussion and one which I will bear in mind at my next meeting with our local police. I also met with the NHS Blood and Transfusion Service to discuss how the changes they are making to their organisation nationally will affect us locally in terms of having enough blood and enough donors to meet local demand. Again, it was very helpful and allayed some of my initial concerns which had prompted me to get in touch with them.
Don't forget - if you need my help as MP I have a weekly MP surgery, so give me a call on 0208 944 0378 to come along. You can also email me on greeningj@parliament.uk or write to me at the House of Commons, SW1A 0AA, and I'll do my best to help.
Best wishes
Justine Greening MP
May 22, 2008